Folder for sewing machines



Sept. 12, 1933. F. A. KUCERA FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1931 Patented Sept. 12, 1933 FOLDER FOR, SEWING MACHINES Frank A.,Kucera, Chicago, 111., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 5, 1931. Serial No. 542,443

2Claims. (c1.1'12 147) The inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in a folder for sewing machines, and more particularly to a folderwhich is adapted to form a lap seam fell.

An object of theinvention is to. provide a folder having independently mounted scrolls for infolding and directing the edge portions of the fabric sections, wherein one of said scrolls is adjustably mounted so that it can be shifted to different set positions, while the other is' held yieldingly in a set position so that it may move outwardly to permit a cross seam to pass through the folder.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan viewof a folder embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting base and the inner scroll member which is yieldingly held in a set position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view with parts broken away to show the manner of mounting the outer scroll member so that it may be shifted to different set positions;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the folder as viewed from the receiving end thereof.

The invention is directed to a folder for sewing machines which has a, supporting base member adapted to be attached to the work support of a sewing machine in a manner so that it may be adjusted in a direction transversely of the line of feed. Attached to this supporting base member are the scroll members which infold the respective fabric sections and arrange said infolded portions so as to form a lap fell seam. One of the scroll members is securedto the base member so that it may be shifted to different set positions. The other scroll member is secured to .the base member so that it is yieldingly held in a set position and is adaptedto shift to permit the cross seam to pass through the folder. Both scroll members are readily detachable from the base member, and thus the folder is provided for producing lap fell seams which readily lends itself to the use of interchangeable parts for supplying a folder of different capacity, and which also is readily adjustable so as to properly infold and position the parts for the forming of a lap seam fell.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the folder as shown comprises a supporting base member 1 which is provided with a slot. 2 adapted to receive screws for securing the folder to the work support of the sewing machine. This slot is so-disposed in the base member that the folder may be readily shifted in a direction transversely of the line of feed to different set positions. Attached to the base member 1 is an inner scroll member 3 which consists of a fabric supporting plate 4 and a curved fabric folding member 5.

Attached to the inner scroll member is an arm 6 through which a screw '7 passes for pivotally securing said inner scroll member to the base member 1. The screw shank is so constructed that the scroll member is free to swing on this screw as a pivot. Attached to the base member 1 is a spring 8. This spring is coiled about a screw 9, and the end of the spring is bent downwardly so as to engage a socket in the base member, indicated at 10. This spring passes through an opening in a lug 11 which is attached to the inner scroll member. Extending upwardly from the base member is an arm 12. The spring normally forces this inner scroll member to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, and away from the base member. The arm is engaged by the spring, and this limits the lateral movement of the inner scroll member through the action of the spring. When the spring, which really is in the form of an arm, bears against this rigid arm 12 on the base member, the scroll is not moved any further. It is then held in a set position. It can, however, yield when a cross seam passes through the folder, in which case, it is, of course, shifted toward the base member. Also mounted on the base member is an outer scroll member 13. Said scroll member 13 has a fabric supporting plate 14 which extends over the fabric folding member 5 of the inner scroll member. This fabric supporting plate is bent downwardly at 15, thence inwardly at 16, thence again downwardly at 1'7, thence outwardly at 18, upwardly at 19 and backwardly at 20. This forms from the outer scroll member a guiding passage which infolds and underfolds the edge portion of the upper or overlapping fabric section. When this upper scroll member is in place, there is a fabric guiding passage formed for the under fabric section, which folds upwardly andoutwardly the edge portion of the fabric section, These two fabric sections as they leave the folder are interfolded so that when theypass to the needles, lines of stitching will be passed through the interfolded sections, thus joining thesame. This outer scroll section of the folder is mounted on the base member so that it may be shifted to different set positions. Attached to the fabric supporting portion 14 of the outer scroll member is a U-shaped dependthe manner described above.

ing bracket 22. Said bracket is provided with a stud 23 which is adapted to enter an opening 24 in the base member. The bracket member 22 is also provided with an opening 25 through which a screw 26 is passed. This screw is threaded into the base member. The opening 25 is considerably larger than the shank of the screw, so that when the screw is loosened, the upper scroll member may be swung about the stud 23 as a pivot, to a different set position, and then secured by the screw 26, This screw is rendered accessible through an opening 27 in the fabric supporting member 14. The particular construction and mounting of this outer scroll member per se forms no part of the present invention, but the same is shown, described and claimed in the patent granted Joseph Mann, May 14, 1929, No. 1,712,964.

The fabric sections are directed through the fabric guiding passages referred to above, and the edge portions of the fabric sections folded and interfolded, so as to form a lap fell seam. When it is desired to change the capacity of the folder, the outer scroll member can be quickly removed and another outer scroll member of different proportions substituted therefor. In order to center the interfolded fabric sections when the capacity of the folder is changed, the base member may be shifted on the cloth plate in The outer scroll member also has a limited range of adjustment on the base member, so that the capacity of selected folder parts may be slightly varied. The inner scroll member while maintained in a set position by the spring, is capable of yielding so as to increase the capacity of the folder to permit a cross seam to pass through the same.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. A folder for sewing machines comprising a supporting base member, an outer scroll member for guiding and infolding the edge portion of a fabric section, means for attaching said scroll member to said base member whereby it may be shifted to different set fixed positions, an inner scroll member for infolding the edge portion of a fabric section and interfolding the same with the infolded. portion of the first-named fabric section, means for pivotally attaching said inner scrollmember to said base member, a spring arm bearing on said inner scroll member for yieldingly forcing the same outward and toward the outer scroll member and a stop for limiting the movement of said inner scroll member.

2. A folder for sewing machines comprising a supportingbase member, an outer scroll member for guiding and infolding the edge portion of a fabric section, means for attaching said scroll member to said base member whereby it may be shifted to different set fixed positions, an inner scroll member for infolding the edge portion of a fabric section and interfolding the same with the infolded portion of the first-named fabric section, means for pivotally attaching said inner scroll member to said base member, a spring arm bearing on said inner scroll member for yieldingly forcing the same outward and toward the outer scroll member and a stop arm adapted to be engaged by the spring arm for limiting the movement of the inner scroll member relative to the outer scroll member.

FRANK A. KUCERA. 

